Scratching ear/black stuff/ help!?!

Hello, my 5 year old male (un-neutered) cat has black stuff down one ear he keeps scratching at it then the black stuff comes out. It smells really bad (possibly infected) and when I tell my parents they just treat him ''their own way'' which never worked.

We don't know if it's mites, a infection or if he had a fight because there is a cut on the outside which keeps bleeding. Right now it is healed up, but when he scratches it the scab comes off.

He won't stop scratching it!

We are trying to get him neutered as well otherwise the fighting will keep happening and it will be a revolving circle of inguries.

Only problem being...we have no money...

We have a huge gas bill to pay off and my father said at the end of the month we will take him the vets (which he keeps saying every month) it's stressing me out because I can't let the cat in my room because he just scratches his ear all over my bed.

Please no questions about why we don't have him neutered, im only 13 so I have only started being more wise about what a cat needs and what benefits having a neutered cat are.

Thankyou-Leah & Rocket.

Hi Leelo,

I understand that your 13 and learning to be a responsible cat owner, so we won't get on your case about your cat needing to be neutered, and we know that your family wants to do this.  To help make it more affordable google your local "humane society" or "spca" along with your zip code.  If you can find them they often do low cost neutering, and male cats are cheaper than female to fix.  It might be as little as $30.  Also, some cities offer free neutering if you are receiving public assistance.

You can help your folks by calling your spca or humane society and finding out the cost, then you can tell your folks, and you could even make an appointment for your cat at the end of the month.  That way it might help your parents say "yes" when the time comes

Obviously, and you know this I can tell, he needs his ear looked at. It could be mites, they leave black gook in ears, or it could be dried blood or dirt.  If its mites or dirt, it will be in both ears.  If its just one ear that would strongly suggest an injury.  The fact that he is scratching so much suggests that its mites.  Is the black stuff in one ear or both?

When you call the humane society (or even a private vet) you can ask how much $$ for a basic appointment to look at his ear.

Also look at this link http://www.thecatsite.com/t/155462/cant-afford-a-vet-please-read

Lastly, please do not let him outside until he is neutered. If you get your parents to agree to this it should help them decide to get him fixed!  When he goes outside he is just making females pregnant and then they have kittens outside and get sick and many of them die.  Those that live have more kittens, and the cycle continues.

You can tell your parents about the benefits of neutering:

- Less wandering

- Urine won't smell bad

- No urine marking if he's doing that

- Less fighting with other cats, less injuries, lower vet bills

- Happier cat

- Happier home

Stephen

also want to add that a male unfixed cat is at higher risk for FIV .  We recently adopted a stray cat that was turned into shelter and she is testing postive for FIV.  IF your kitty gets the FIV virus he would be more susceptable to all types of infections throughout his life.

Any way you can post a picture of his ear?
Like Stephen said, if it's just one ear then it's more likely an injury. If it's infected and he keeps scratching it, it's going to take a long time to heal without care.

Yes, mites are not so little contagious, so he would soon get mites in the other ear too, IF it was mites.

You live in the USA?

So look at these links if you want to find a cheap vet:

And some links about how to find a cheap spaying place if you live in the USA.  The same places may probably also help with a more cheap vet treatments than the average fashionable full payment vet clinic:

cheap  spaying:
If you are in the U.S. ,  the ASPCA has an online database.  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter

 Or here is a hotline number that will find you a low cost clinic in your area  1-800-248-7729.

Also,   

www.spayusa.org

Good luck!